UCL open environment最新文献

Physical vulnerability of buildings to flooding in Lilongwe City, Malawi. 马拉维利隆圭市建筑物在洪水面前的物理脆弱性。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2025-06-17 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3216

Chresceuntia Matambo Msasa, Mtafu A Z Chinguwa Manda

{"title":"Physical vulnerability of buildings to flooding in Lilongwe City, Malawi.","authors":"Chresceuntia Matambo Msasa, Mtafu A Z Chinguwa Manda","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3216","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3216","url":null,"abstract":"Research on flood vulnerability has mainly focussed on social, economic and human vulnerability and the few studies that have attempted to analyse the physical vulnerability of buildings to natural hazards (seismicity and floods) have been done at the subnational spatial scale resulting in generalised vulnerability outcomes. Additionally, most of the studies used models to analyse vulnerability which are known for uncertainties in the results. This study investigated the physical vulnerability of buildings to flooding in low-income settlements of Biwi and Kawale 1 in Malawi's capital city, Lilongwe. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 was used for descriptive statistics frequency, cross-tabulation and chi-square analysis to correlate exposure factors and the physical vulnerability of buildings. The study found that exposure factors variably influenced the physical vulnerability of individual building types, and that building typology and floodwater depth were important factors. Irrespective of their location, buildings constructed using fired bricks with cement mortar walls and cement floors had low vulnerability while buildings constructed using fired bricks in mud mortar walls and cement floors had high vulnerability. Buildings with protective measures such as high foundations had low vulnerability. The chi-square correlation test showed that the physical vulnerability was influenced by building typologies and floodwater level with a significance value of 0.001 (p < 0.001) and 0.004 (p < 0.005), respectively. Rather than urban planners and disaster management officials emphasising stream reserves as a preventive measure, advocating for the construction of buildings using flood-resistant materials and with high enough foundations in flood-prone areas should be considered central to urban flood risk reduction. Flood vulnerability studies should be conducted in other flood-prone cities of Malawi to support effective citywide urban planning and disaster risk management.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"7 ","pages":"e3216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12207978/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144531530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to identify food-contaminated compostable and recyclable plastics. 使用高光谱成像和机器学习来识别受食物污染的可堆肥和可回收塑料。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2025-04-02 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3237

Nutcha Taneepanichskul, Helen C Hailes, Mark Miodownik

{"title":"Using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to identify food-contaminated compostable and recyclable plastics.","authors":"Nutcha Taneepanichskul, Helen C Hailes, Mark Miodownik","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3237","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3237","url":null,"abstract":"With the increasing public legislation aimed at reducing plastic pollution, compostable plastics have emerged as an alternative to conventional plastics for some food packaging and food service items. However, the true value of compostable plastics can only be realised if they do not enter the environment as contaminants but instead are processed along with food waste using industrial composting facilities. Distinguishing compostable plastics from other plastics in this waste stream is an outstanding problem. Currently, near-infrared technology is widely used to identify polymers, but it falls short in distinguishing plastics contaminated with food waste. This study investigates the application of hyperspectral imaging to address this challenge, enhancing the detection and sorting of contaminated compostable plastics. By combining hyperspectral imaging with various machine learning algorithms we show it is possible to accurately identify and classify plastic packaging with food waste contamination, achieving up to 99% accuracy. The study also measures the impact of plastic features such as darkness, size and level of contamination on model performance, with darkness having the most significant impact. The developed machine learning model can detect plastic with higher levels of contamination more accurately compared to our previous study. Implementing hyperspectral imaging in waste management systems can significantly increase composting and recycling rates, and improve the quality of recycled products. This advanced approach supports the circular economy by ensuring that both compostable and recyclable plastics are effectively processed and recycled, minimising environmental impact.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"7 ","pages":"e3237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12207977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144531531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Comparing the financial, energy and time costs of different food and stove combinations in Nairobi using controlled cooking tests and longitudinal fuel price data. 利用受控烹饪试验和纵向燃料价格数据，比较内罗毕不同食物和炉灶组合的财务、能源和时间成本。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2025-03-26 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3034

Tash Perros, Mark O'Keefe, James Mwitari, Lewis Gichane, Elisa Puzzolo, Daniel Pope

{"title":"Comparing the financial, energy and time costs of different food and stove combinations in Nairobi using controlled cooking tests and longitudinal fuel price data.","authors":"Tash Perros, Mark O'Keefe, James Mwitari, Lewis Gichane, Elisa Puzzolo, Daniel Pope","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3034","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3034","url":null,"abstract":"With a wide range of stoves and appliances available in the ever-evolving Kenyan cooking market, it is important to understand which options are the most cost, time and energy efficient to use. This information can help households to make more informed decisions about their energy use and policy makers to better understand which solutions to promote. Despite its importance, the existing literature offers scant evidence to guide optimal stove and fuel choices. In this research, we utilised controlled cooking tests to investigate the fuel required to cook six regularly prepared dishes on 10 prevalent stove and fuel combinations (including liquified petroleum gas, ethanol, charcoal, kerosene and electric appliances). We also tested the efficiency improvements from pre-soaking beans and using stovetop pressure cookers. We collected primary fuel cost data from across Nairobi in June 2023 and collated historical fuel prices from secondary sources spanning 2019-2023. The prices of liquified petroleum gas, charcoal and kerosene varied considerably by variables such as brand and location, whereas ethanol and on-grid electricity were more stable. The electric pressure cooker was the most cost- and energy-efficient device. For liquified petroleum gas and charcoal, combining pre-soaking beans with a pressure cooker substantially reduced fuel consumption, but was still costlier than the electric pressure cooker. The longitudinal comparison highlighted the dynamic nature of fuel prices in Kenya and how a household's cost-optimal cooking stack can change at short notice. These findings demonstrate how comparative affordability varies both temporally and spatially and can be heavily affected by wider market and policy incentives.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"7 ","pages":"e3034"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966389/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Procedural justice and (in)equitable participation in climate negotiations. 程序公正和公平参与气候谈判。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2025-02-06 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3116

Carola Klöck, Christian Baatz, Nils Wendler

{"title":"Procedural justice and (in)equitable participation in climate negotiations.","authors":"Carola Klöck, Christian Baatz, Nils Wendler","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3116","url":null,"abstract":"Formally, state parties are equal in all United Nations negotiations. In theory, every state, regardless of its size, economic or political power, has the same opportunities and rights to participate. Nevertheless, United Nations negotiations, such as those on climate, are often considered highly unequal in practice. Many states struggle to meaningfully engage in complex and highly technical multilateral negotiations, including because their delegations are smaller. Here we examine delegation size in United Nations climate negotiations through a procedural justice lens. Starting from normative principles of procedural justice, we argue that equitable negotiations demand the capability of all parties to send a sufficient number of delegates - around 15. Using descriptive analysis of data on delegation sizes of recent Conferences of the Parties, we then highlight that many parties in practice send smaller delegations. Based on these results, we suggest two routes for making climate negotiations more equitable: (i) providing additional resources to poor states to increase their delegation size; and (ii) trimming the overall negotiation agenda to lower the sufficiency threshold.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"7 ","pages":"e3116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11822920/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143416374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Miniaturisation of the Daphnia magna immobilisation assay for the reliable testing of low volume samples. 小型水蚤大固定化试验的可靠测试小体积样品。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2025-01-29 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3037

Eberhard Küster, George Gyan Addo, Silke Aulhorn, Dana Kühnel

{"title":"Miniaturisation of the Daphnia magna immobilisation assay for the reliable testing of low volume samples.","authors":"Eberhard Küster, George Gyan Addo, Silke Aulhorn, Dana Kühnel","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3037","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3037","url":null,"abstract":"International standard test guidelines for the ecotoxicological characterisation of various substances use organisms such as algae, daphnids and fish embryos. These guidelines recommend or use relatively high volumes of water for the process of testing, for example, 200 mL for a complete dose-response relationship in a daphnia assay. However, for various samples such as concentrated extracts from environmental monitoring or leachates from microplastic ageing experiments, the amount of available sample volume is limited, that is, rather in the range of 10-50 mL/biotest. Using the exposure volumes as recommended in test guidelines would not allow to test a range of different concentrations or to repeat tests or use multiple different organismic bioassays. Lower media volumes would allow the testing of more samples (more concentrations per sample, more test repetitions for statistical robustness, etc.) but it may also decrease the possible number of organisms tested in the same volume. Here, we aimed at reducing the test volumes in the acute daphnia assay (using a maximum of 30 mL for a complete dose-response relationship) without impacting animals' sensitivity towards toxicants. A literature review on existing miniaturisation approaches was used as a starting point. Subsequently, assays employing conventional as well as reduced test volumes were compared for 16 selected test substances with a diverse spectrum of lipophilicity. Results showed that there are differences in EC50 between the two approaches, but that these differences were overall only within a range of a factor of two to three. Further, by retrieving EC50 values for the genus Daphnia and 16 test substances from the United States Environmental Protection Agency database, we demonstrated that our results are well in line with the general differences in sensitivities.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"7 ","pages":"e3037"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11804477/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143384166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A virtual global carbon price is essential to drive rapid decarbonisation. 虚拟的全球碳价格对于推动快速脱碳至关重要。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2024-12-17 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1983

Richard H Clarke, Mark A Maslin

引用次数: 0

Urinary arsenic species and birth outcomes in Tacna, Peru, 2019: a prospective cohort study. 2019年秘鲁塔克纳市尿砷种类和出生结局：一项前瞻性队列研究。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2024-12-06 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3146

Diego Fano-Sizgorich, Matthew O Gribble, Cinthya Vásquez-Velásquez, Claudio Ramírez-Atencio, Julio Aguilar, Jeffrey K Wickliffe, Maureen Y Lichtveld, Dana B Barr, Gustavo F Gonzales

{"title":"Urinary arsenic species and birth outcomes in Tacna, Peru, 2019: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Diego Fano-Sizgorich, Matthew O Gribble, Cinthya Vásquez-Velásquez, Claudio Ramírez-Atencio, Julio Aguilar, Jeffrey K Wickliffe, Maureen Y Lichtveld, Dana B Barr, Gustavo F Gonzales","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3146","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.3146","url":null,"abstract":"Arsenic exposure during pregnancy might affect foetal development. Arsenic metabolism may modulate the potential damage to the fetus. Tacna has the highest arsenic exposure levels in Peru. However, this region also has the highest birth weight in Peru. It is not known if arsenic exposure is affecting maternal-perinatal health in Tacna. This study aimed to evaluate the association between urinary arsenic metabolism and birth outcomes, specifically birth weight and gestational age at birth in Tacna, Peru. A prospective cohort study was conducted, involving 158 pregnant women in Tacna, Peru, during January-November 2019. Participants were enrolled in their second trimester and followed-up until birth. Urine samples were collected in the second and third trimesters. Urine samples were analysed for total arsenic concentration and its species. Generalised estimating equations analysis was used to evaluate the association of interest. Inter-differences in arsenic toxicokinetics, calculated with principal component analysis was included as an interaction term. Analysis was stratified by pregnancy trimester. The median total urinary arsenic concentration was 33.34 μg/L. Inorganic arsenic and dimethylarsinic acid were higher in the second trimester. Dimethylarsinic acid was the predominant component (84.78% of total urinary arsenic). No significant association was found between urinary arsenic exposure and birth weight or gestational age at birth. The association was not affected by arsenic metabolism. Stratified analyses by pregnancy trimester also showed no significant associations. Urinary arsenic was not associated with birth weight, and this null relationship remained unaffected by arsenic toxicokinetic differences reflected in urine.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"e3146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11647210/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142840501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Hydrophobic treatments and their application with internal wall insulation. 憎水处理及其在内墙隔热中的应用。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2024-11-08 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1978

Toby Cambray, Valentina Marincioni, Hector Altamirano

引用次数: 0

The causes of air movement in hidden indoor micro-environments: measurements in historic bookshelves. 隐蔽室内微环境中空气流动的原因：对历史书架的测量。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2024-09-25 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1976

Morena Ferreira, Josep Grau-Bové, Nigel Blades, Lisa O'Hagan, Hector Altamirano

{"title":"The causes of air movement in hidden indoor micro-environments: measurements in historic bookshelves.","authors":"Morena Ferreira, Josep Grau-Bové, Nigel Blades, Lisa O'Hagan, Hector Altamirano","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1976","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1976","url":null,"abstract":"The use of ventilation holes in small micro-environments has been proposed by the National Trust as a mechanism to improve the environmental conditions of moisture and temperature within bookshelves. At one National Trust historic property, this mechanism has been used to encourage air movement behind books as a possible strategy to reduce the risk of mould growth. It is believed that including ventilation holes as a passive design solution to promote airflow within micro-environments could prevent decay from occurring in the archives of historic buildings. This paper investigates the mechanisms that cause airflow behind bookshelves using field measurements in three National Trust historic libraries. The measurements indicate that small but measurable velocities, up to 4 cm/s, can be passively generated behind bookshelves. Air movement in such confined micro-environments is probably caused by a combination of natural convection, caused by temperature differences between the walls and the interior and the exterior of the bookshelf, and forced convection due to drafts in the surrounding environment. While in some cases one mechanism prevailed, both mechanisms may be present simultaneously in most cases. Further research is needed to clarify how surface temperature drives air motion behind shelves.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"e1976"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11440355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142334030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Moisture buffering and mould growth characteristics of naturally ventilated lime plastered houses. 自然通风石灰抹灰房屋的水分缓冲和霉菌生长特性。

UCL open environment Pub Date : 2024-09-10 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI: 10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1988

Vismaya Paralkar, Rashmin Damle

{"title":"Moisture buffering and mould growth characteristics of naturally ventilated lime plastered houses.","authors":"Vismaya Paralkar, Rashmin Damle","doi":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1988","DOIUrl":"10.14324/111.444/ucloe.1988","url":null,"abstract":"Lime plaster is a sustainable building material that can be an effective passive cooling strategy. The moisture buffering quality of lime causes adsorption and desorption of moisture which moderates the indoor relative humidity. Its vapour permeability is also influential in moisture transfer across the building envelope. Lime plaster also has a self-healing quality which prevents the formation of inner cracks. Moreover, its strength increases with time leading to a longer life span. In old structures, an important function is the breathability of ceilings and walls. Hence, it is often used in conservation projects where it improves the appearance and durability of old buildings. Often organic additives employed to impart certain qualities to the lime mortar/plaster led to mould growth. Mould growth degrades indoor air quality, and the occupant health is compromised. To avoid mould-related problems, it is necessary to understand the behaviour of lime plaster with respect to the indoor relative humidity and surface moisture content. This paper focuses on the hygrothermal performance of lime plaster in naturally ventilated residential spaces. Surveys were carried out in 45 traditional buildings in Ahmedabad in India with measurements of ambient variables, such as temperature, relative humidity, wall moisture content, etc. The mould growth patterns of these spaces are related to the measured variables and wall characteristics. Hygrothermal simulations of some spaces were also carried out to observe the moisture buffering of lime plaster. Experimental observations were then compared to simulation results to see if the predictions of the hygrothermal models were realistic.","PeriodicalId":75271,"journal":{"name":"UCL open environment","volume":"6 ","pages":"e1988"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11443221/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142362560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0